Israel Matzav

Israeli jet blows up 'spy device' in southern Lebanon?

Lebanese sources report that an Israeli jet destroyed a Lebanese 'spy device' in southern Lebanon on Monday.

An Israeli jet blew up on Monday a spy device between the southern towns of Zrariyeh and Tayr Filsay, reported various media outlets.

Al-Manar television said that the attack targeted a device that was located on a Hizbullah telecommunications cable.

The party later confirmed the attack in a brief statement.

Prime Minister Najib Miqati has requested that the Army Command tackle the incident with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon command.

The western sector in southern Lebanon has since witnessed heavy overflights by Israeli warplanes above the stream of the Litani River, reported LBC television.

Hizbullah has also cordoned off the area.

Israel Radio reports, based on Lebanese sources in its 7:00 pm newscast, that the device 'straddled the Litani River.' The Litani River is about 25 miles north of the Lebanese border with Israel, and is the unofficial border of 'Hezbullahland.'

I have yet to see any comments on this from Israeli sources.

Hmmm.

UPDATE 9:30 PM

Israeli media is now picking this up. JPost reports that the IDF is declining comment (what a surprise). YNet adds:

According to the report, the device was planted on a Hizbullah telecommunications cable. The device was destroyed by Israel because the terror group had exposed it, the National News Agency reported.

Lebanese media reported that Israeli warplanes have been flying at a low altitude over the country's southern sector since the afternoon hours, while Hizbullah has cordoned off the area.

Hezbollah's Al-Manar television network reported that Israel detonated an explosive device planted on one of the "resistance's" communication lines.

An El-Nashra reporter said an unmanned plane detonated the device, which Hezbollah says was planted by Israel.

...

Shortly after the strike Hezbollah issued a statement saying it had "thwarted an espionage attempt by the Zionist enemy when it uncovered Israeli surveillance equipment in the valley between villages Dir Kifa and Srifa in southern Lebanon."

If you believe that last line, I have a bridge over the Litani to sell you.

Labels: Hezbullah, Lebanon, Southern Lebanon

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 7:10 PM